Vehicle vision system with rear mounted camera

ABSTRACT

A vehicle vision system includes an extender element disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. The extender element includes an extender portion and an end portion, with the end portion viewable to a viewer who is viewing the rear of the vehicle. The end portion includes at least one of (i) a vehicle emblem and (ii) a vehicle logo. A rear backup camera assembly is at least partially disposed in the extender portion of the extender element. The rear backup camera assembly is disposed with its lens viewing exterior of the vehicle. The extender element is incapable of extending such that the rear backup camera is non-movable relative to the rear portion of the vehicle when disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/251,843, filed Apr. 14, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,975,484, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/672,070, filedFeb. 7, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,698,894, which claims benefit of U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/765,797, filed Feb. 7, 2006, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to imaging systems for vehicles and, moreparticularly, to rear vision systems or back up aids for vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a rearward facing camera or imaging sensor ordevice at a rear of a vehicle and with a generally rearward and downwardfield of view to capture images of the area immediately rearward of thevehicle for a rear vision system or back up aid system or the like.Examples of such rear vision devices and systems are described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,005,974; 6,989,736; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,396,397;6,201,642; 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,796,094;5,877,897; 6,097,023; and 6,498,620, and International Publication No.WO 2004/047421, published Jun. 3, 2004, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Such devices andsystems perform adequately for their particular applications.

It has been suggested that such imaging devices be located at thelicense plate well or under the sill or overhang portion at the licenseplate well or recess, such as, for example, as is common on tail gatesor lift gates of SUVs, minivans or the like. However, it is desirablethat such rearward and substantially downward facing imaging devices begenerally centrally located at the rear of the vehicle, and manyvehicles have a trunk or lift gate release handle at the central regionof the sill or overhang portion, such that an imaging device cannot becentrally located at the recess or well of the rear license plate. Ithas been suggested to incorporate an imaging device in anextendable/retractable device so that the imaging device may extend orbe moved outward or rearward when it is desired to capture images so asto provide an enhanced rearward and downward field of view for theimaging device when so extended, and may retract within or partiallywithin the rear portion of the vehicle when not in use. Such devices aretypically costly and complicated devices and have not yet achievedwidespread commercialization.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved rear imagingsystem that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an imaging system with an imaging deviceat a rear portion of the vehicle and directed to have a generallyrearward and downward field of view. The imaging device is located at adecal or indicia of the vehicle, such as at a rear tail gate or deck lidhandle or the like, and may be located rearward of the rear surface ofthe tail gate or deck lid so as to provide a generally rearward anddownward field of view. The imaging device or camera is thus camouflagedor rendered covert or covertly located by utilizing the exterior trimelements of the vehicle that are readily accessible and that may bemodified or extended to accommodate the imaging device or camera.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a rear vision systemfor a vehicle includes an image processing device, a display device andan imaging device or sensor or camera. The imaging device is located ata rear portion of the vehicle and has a generally rearward andsubstantially downward field of view for capturing images of the areasubstantially immediately rearward of the vehicle. The imaging device ispositioned at least partially within an extender element that extendsfrom a rear surface of the vehicle. A vehicle emblem or decal orexterior trim component is attached to or included as part of the outeror rearward end or surface of the extender element so that the extenderelement is not readily noticeable or discernible by a person viewing therear of the vehicle.

The extender element and imaging device may be installed to the rear ofthe vehicle during manufacture of the vehicle. Optionally, the decal oremblem or exterior trim component of an existing vehicle may be removedfrom the rear portion of the vehicle, and the extender element andimaging device may be attached to the rear portion as an aftermarketdevice. The decal or emblem may be reattached to or replaced at theouter or rearward end or surface of the extender element, or a new decalor emblem may be included as part of the extender element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle visionsystem includes a vehicle having a body surface and a vehicle elementgenerally at the body surface. The vehicle element defines at least oneof a styling feature and a functional feature of the vehicle and has anormal distance dimension relative to the body surface of the vehicle.An imaging device has an exterior field of view generally exterior ofthe vehicle, and captures images of a region external of the vehicle. Anextender element at the body surface extends outwardly therefrom, withthe vehicle element being disposed at an outer surface of the extenderelement. The extender element extends the normal distance dimension ofthe vehicle element for accommodating the imaging device. The imagingdevice is disposed at least partially within the extender element,whereby the presence of the imaging device in the extender element is atleast partially masked or camouflaged by the extender element and thevehicle element. The vehicle vision system includes a display device fordisplaying video images captured by the imaging device.

Optionally, the body surface is at a rear portion of the vehicle, andthe imaging device may have a generally rearward and downward field ofview, whereby the imaging device captures images of the areasubstantially immediately rearward of the vehicle. Optionally, thedisplay device may display images of the rearward and downward field ofview in response to the vehicle being shifted into a reverse gear.

Optionally, the extender element may be fixedly attached at body surfaceor the rear portion of the vehicle. Optionally, and desirably, theextender element may have a surface finish that substantially matches asurface finish of the body surface of the vehicle. Optionally, thevehicle element may be adhesively attached to the outer surface of theextender element.

Optionally, the vehicle element may comprise at least one of (i) avehicle emblem, (ii) a vehicle decal, (iii) a vehicle indicia, (iv) anexterior trim element of the vehicle, (v) a rear tail gate handle orlatch portion, (vi) a deck lid handle or latch portion, and (vii) alight bar element of the vehicle. Optionally, the vehicle element maycomprise a vehicle emblem, and the extender element may be shaped tosubstantially match a shape of the vehicle emblem so that the vehicleemblem substantially encompasses the outer surface of the extenderelement.

Optionally, the imaging device may comprise a pixelated imaging arrayhaving a plurality of light sensing photosensor pixels or elements, suchas a two dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elementsarranged on a semiconductor substrate. The imaging device may comprise amonochromatic imaging device or a black and white imaging device or acolor imaging device. Optionally, the imaging device may comprise a CMOSimaging device and/or a color CMOS imaging device.

Therefore, the present invention provides an imaging device for avehicle that may be positionable at a generally central location of arear portion of a vehicle, and that may provide a generally downward andrearward field of view at the rear of the vehicle. The imaging device isproud of or positioned outward from a rear portion of the vehicle sothat the downward field of view encompasses a portion of the rear of thevehicle, such as a vehicle bumper or the like. The imaging device may befixedly positioned at the body surface or rear of the vehicle and thusthe imaging system does not include costly and complex mechanicaldevices for extending and retracting the imaging device. The imagingdevice is positioned within an extender element that is substantiallyhidden or not readily noticeable or discernible by a person viewing therear of the vehicle, so that the present invention provides asubstantially concealed imaging device at a central region of the rearof the vehicle. A vehicle element, such as a functional element or astyling element, such as an exterior trim element or emblem or the like,is disposed at or attached to an outer surface of the extender elementto substantially conceal or render covert the extender element andimaging device.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle incorporating an imagingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the vehicle and imaging device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the imaging device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the imaging device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a lower plan view of the imaging device of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the components of an imaging system inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a lower plan view of the imaging device of the imaging systemof FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an imaging device or imaging sensor or camera 10 is located ata rear portion 12 a of a vehicle 12 and has a generally rearward anddownward field of view (FIGS. 1-5). As shown in FIGS. 1-5, imagingdevice 10 is located within a housing or encasement or extender elementor tube 14 that protrudes rearwardly from the rear portion of thevehicle and that has a vehicle element 16 thereon, such as a vehicleemblem or decal or indicia or the like, so that the imaging device isnot readily noticeable or discernible at the rear of the vehicle. Theimaging device 10 thus is disposed at a location that is proud of orrearward of the rear surface of the rear portion 12 a (such as atailgate or lift gate or deck lid or the like) of the vehicle 12, suchthat the imaging device 10 may be directed substantially downward tohave a field of view that encompasses the area immediately rearward ofthe vehicle and that includes a rear portion of the vehicle, such as arear bumper 12 b of the vehicle.

Typically, a vehicle will have a decal or emblem or indicia or label atthe rear of the vehicle (such as a decal identifying the manufacturer orline or type of the vehicle). The vehicle element or decal 16 istypically attached or adhered to the rear of the vehicle (such as, forexample, to a sill or trim portion 18 at the rear portion of the vehicleand establishing an overhang at the license plate recess or well 12 c).The vehicle element 16 may be adhered to the rear trim portion 18 via adouble-sided tape, or other means for adhering or attaching the decalmay be implemented depending on the particular application. The vehicleelement 16 thus may be removably attached to the rear of the vehicle,and may be removed therefrom, such as by a mechanic or a technician.

As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, imaging device 10 may be located withinextender element or tube 14, which may be a generally cylindrical,hollow casing that may extend generally rearwardly from the rear trimportion 18 or from the rear panel of the vehicle. In the illustratedembodiment, the extender element 14 is generally cylindrical togenerally match or correspond to the shape of the vehicle element 16 ofthe vehicle. However, the extender element may comprise any other shapedepending on the shape of the vehicle element or decal or indicia or thelike of the particular application of the imaging device and imagingsystem. For example, the extender element may be generallyrectangular-shaped for applications on a Volvo vehicle, where theindicia is “VOLVO” at the rear, generally central region of the decklid.

Thus, the vehicle element or emblem or decal 16 of a vehicle 12 may beremoved, and the extender element 14, with imaging device 10 positionedtherein, may be attached, such as via adhesive or welding or the like,to the rear portion 12 a or rear surface or trim portion 18 of thevehicle. Optionally, a recess or aperture may be formed in the rearportion or trim portion for receiving the extender element at leastpartially therein to attach the extender element to the vehicle. When soattached, the extender element 14 protrudes rearwardly from the rearportion 12 a of the vehicle so that the imaging device may be positionedrearward of the rear surface of the rear portion of the vehicle with agenerally downward field of view. The emblem or decal or vehicle element16 may be attached or adhered to the outer surface or outer end 14 a ofthe extender element 14, so that the extender element is partiallyhidden by the emblem or decal or vehicle element, and the extenderelement and imaging device are thus not readily noticeable ordiscernible at the rear of the vehicle. For example, the original emblemor decal or the like may be reattached to the extender element or a newemblem or decal or the like may be attached to the extender element andthus may replace the original emblem or decal or the like.

The extender element 14 may comprise any suitable material, such as ametallic material or a polymeric material, and may be painted or coloredto match the rear portion of the vehicle or the trim portion or theemblem or decal of the vehicle. Preferably, the outer side surface orsurfaces and the rearward end surface of the extender element arefinished to substantially match the surface finish of the rear portionof the vehicle or the trim portion (depending on where the imagingdevice and extender are attached and where the emblem or decal areattached to the vehicle), so that the extender element is not readilynoticeable or discernible at the rear portion of the vehicle. Becausethe extender element 14 extends rearwardly from the rear portion of thevehicle, the extender element may be positioned at a generally centralregion of the rear portion of the vehicle, and will not interfere with ahandle or latch or light or the like at the license plate well or recessat the rear of the vehicle.

The vehicle element may comprise any suitable element that providescamouflage at or renders covert the imaging device at the rear portionof the vehicle. For example, the vehicle element (that is attached to oradhered to or disposed at the outer portion of the extender element) maycomprise a vehicle emblem or logo, a vehicle decal, a vehicle indicia,an exterior trim element of the vehicle, a rear tail gate handle orlatch portion, a deck lid handle or latch portion, and/or a light barelement of the vehicle and/or the like. Optionally, for applicationswhere the vehicle element comprises a vehicle emblem or logo or decal orthe like, the extender element may be shaped to substantially match ashape of the vehicle emblem or logo or decal so that the vehicle emblemor logo or decal substantially encompasses the outer surface of theextender element.

The imaging device may be secured within the extender element, with itslens positioned at or near a lower surface of the extender element (whenthe extender element is attached to the vehicle). A hole or passagewaymay be formed through the rear portion or panel and/or trim portion ofthe vehicle so that any wiring associated with the imaging device may berouted from the imaging device and extender element to the vehicle andto the control or image processor of the associated imaging system. Theimaging device thus may be installed at the rear of the vehicle and maybe wired or electrically connected to a control or processor of thevehicle, and may be installed and connected during manufacture of thevehicle or as an aftermarket device or system.

Optionally, and desirably, the imaging device may comprise a pixelatedimaging array having a plurality of light sensing photosensor pixels orelements, such as a two dimensional array of light sensing photosensorelements arranged on a semiconductor substrate. The imaging device maycomprise a monochromatic imaging device or a black and white imagingdevice or a color imaging device or the like. Optionally, the imagingdevice may comprise a CMOS imaging device and/or a color CMOS imagingdevice, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems and imagingdevices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,989,736; 6,757,109; 6,717,610;6,396,397; 6,201,642; 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 6,396,397; 5,550,677;5,670,935; 5,796,094; 5,877,897; 6,097,023; and 6,498,620, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/441,341, filed Nov. 16, 1999, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,339,149; Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,038,577; Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,965,336; and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

As shown in FIG. 6, the imaging device 10 may be associated with animaging system 20 having a display device or element 22 at an interiorportion of the vehicle for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Forexample, and desirably, the display element may be located at aninterior rearview mirror assembly 24. The imaging system 20 may processimages captured by the imaging device 10 and may display the videoimages at the display device 22 at the mirror assembly 24 for viewing bythe driver of the vehicle, such as display devices of the typesdescribed below. The image data may be communicated from the imagingdevice to the display device (or to an image processor or the like) viaany suitable communication link or protocol. For example, the imagingdevice and the display device may communicate or output and receivesignals utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,881,496; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/628,709,filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No.60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

The imaging device thus may be located at a generally central region ofthe vehicle and may be positioned so as to have a generally orsubstantially downward field of view so as to capture images of the areaimmediately rearward of the vehicle. The field of view of the imagingdevice may include a rear portion of the vehicle, such as a rear bumperof the vehicle or the like, so as to provide a reference for the driverwhen viewing the video images within the vehicle, such as during reversemaneuvering of the vehicle. The imaging device thus may be covertlydisposed at the rear of the vehicle so as to be substantiallycamouflaged or rendered covert, while protruding a sufficient amountrearward of the rear surface of the rear of the vehicle so as to providea generally downward and rearward field of view for capturing images ofthe area substantially immediately rearward of the vehicle, such as fora backup assist system and display. The imaging device and/or a lens orhousing or other elements associated with the imaging device may utilizeaspects of the imaging devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,989,736;6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,396,397; 6,201,642; 6,353,392; 6,313,454;6,396,397; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,796,094; 5,877,897; 6,097,023; and6,498,620, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May11, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,336, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/041709, filed Oct. 27, 2006, published on Dec. 31, 2008, asInternational Publication No. WO 2007/053404, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the imaging device and/or the display device may beactivated to capture and display images of the rearward and downwardfield of view in response to the vehicle being shifted into a reversegear. Thus, the display may be episodically actuated only when it isdesired or appropriate to display the area immediately rearward of thevehicle, such as when the driver is performing rearward drivingmaneuvers, and may be deactivated when it is no longer suitable fordisplaying the rearward images, such as when the driver shifts thevehicle into a forward gear for forward driving.

The display or display device preferably comprises a video displaydevice for displaying video images of the scene substantiallyimmediately rearward of the vehicle. For example, the video displaydevice of the imaging system may comprise an LCD type back lit videodisplay, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,487; PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003, published on Jul.15, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 04/058540; PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006, published on Apr. 23, 2009,as International Publication No. WO 2007/053710; U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983;and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9,2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004; Ser. No.60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005; Ser. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1,2005; Ser. No. 60/759,992, filed Jan. 18, 2006; and/or Ser. No.60/836,219, filed Aug. 8, 2006, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. As shown in FIG. 6, display device 22 maycomprise a slide-out, extendable/retractable display device, such as thetypes described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19,2003, published on Jul. 15, 2004, as International Publication No. WO04/058540, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filedJun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0050018, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004; Ser. No. 60/667,048, filed Mar. 31,2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

In addition, placing a video screen in a mirror assembly (and behind themirror reflective element so that the display is transmitted through thereflective element for viewing by an occupant of the vehicle) is known,and it is also known to covertly locate the video screens behind thereflective element to provide a DOD (Display-on-Demand) display throughthe transflective reflective element, such that the presence of thevideo screen is only noticeable or discernible when the video screen isactivated, such as by utilizing aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501;Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190;Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep.14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0061008; Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,370,983, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct.31, 2006, published on Apr. 23, 2009, as International Publication No.WO 2007/053710, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

Optionally, an anti-reflection coating may be disposed at the frontsurface of the reflective element and at the display area to reduce thefirst surface reflection at the display area to reduce display washout,such as by utilizing aspects described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,674;and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006,published on Apr. 23, 2009, as International Publication No. WO2007/053710; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/759,992,filed Jan. 18, 2006, and/or Ser. No. 60/836,219, filed Aug. 11, 2006,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the video display screen may comprise a scanning beamdisplay system that includes a plurality of laser light sources ordiodes, a controller and a micro-electromechanical scanner (MEMS), suchas the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,487; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other means may beimplemented to provide a display screen at the mirror assembly thatachieves reduced display washout on a sunny day, such as described inPCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006, published onApr. 23, 2009, as International Publication No. WO 2007/053710; and/orU.S. provisional applications, U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/732,245, filed Nov. 1, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/759,992, filed Jan.18, 2006, and/or Ser. No. 60/836,219, filed Aug. 11, 2006, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally,for example, a video slide-out mirror may be provided that includes avideo display screen that slides out or otherwise extends to a viewableposition when it is activated, such as a video mirror of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983;and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9,2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018; PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003, published on Jul. 15, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 04/058540, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004; and Ser. No.60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

As discussed above, the mirror assembly may be utilized with a videoslide-out mirror, such as the types described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983;and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9,2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018; PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003, published on Jul. 15, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 04/058540, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004; and Ser. No.60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Further, when such a vehicle equippedwith such a video mirror is also equipped with a side viewing or frontviewing or rear viewing sensor vision system (such as by utilizing aradar sensor or an ultrasonic sensor or a camera sensor (such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,496;and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,720,580, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/628,709,filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No.60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; and/or Ser. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec.23, 2004, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties) to monitor an area adjacent the vehicle), the video screenmay automatically extend when such a sensor system detects the presenceof an obstacle and/or a human adjacent to the vehicle. Also, the videodisplay screen may extend in conjunction with a trailer-hitch monitoringsystem (such as the types described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/418,486, filed Apr. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and iconsand/or indicia and/or instructions may be created on the video imagedisplayed on the extended video screen of the video mirror to assist orguide the driver to hitch a trailer to the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more user actuatableinputs or input devices or human machine interfaces. For example, theinputs or user interfaces may include buttons, such as are described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,501,387; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/451,639, filed Jun. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,527,403; and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/690,401, filed Jun. 14, 2005;Ser. No. 60/719,482, filed Sep. 22, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/749,423,filed Dec. 12, 2005, which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties, or that include touch/proximity sensors such as aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; and6,627,918, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/817,874, filed Mar.26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,324, and PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003, published on Jul. 15, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 04/058540, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or that includeother types of buttons or switches, such as those described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/029,695, filed Jan. 5, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,253,723; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/556,259, filed Mar. 25, 2004; Ser. No. 60/553,517, filed Mar. 16,2004; and Ser. No. 60/535,559, filed Jan. 9, 2004; and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004, published Dec. 2,2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/10377282, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or thatinclude fabric-made position detectors, such as are disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258; and6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. The manual inputs or user actuatable inputs or actuators maycontrol or adjust or activate/deactivate one or more accessories orelements or features. For touch sensitive inputs or applications orswitches, the mirror assembly or accessory module or input may, whenactivated, provide a positive feedback (such as activation of anillumination source or the like, or such as via an audible signal, suchas a chime or the like, or a tactile or haptic signal, or a rumbledevice or signal or the like) to the user so that the user is made awarethat the input was successfully activated.

The rearview mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element or cell, such as an electrochromicmirror assembly and electrochromic reflective element utilizingprinciples disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268;5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360;5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012;5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407; 4,824,221;5,818,636; 6,166,847; 6,111,685; 6,392,783; 6,710,906; 6,798,556;6,554,843; 6,420,036; 6,286,965; 6,196,688; 5,535,056; 5,751,489;6,065,840 and/or 4,712,879, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No.10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; Ser. No.10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No.10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or Ser.No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451, and/orInternational Pat. Publication Nos. WO 2004/098953, published Nov. 18,2004; WO 2004/042457, published May 21, 2004; WO 2003/084780, publishedOct. 16, 2003; and/or WO 2004/026633, published Apr. 1, 2004, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/oras disclosed in the following publications: N. R. Lynam, “ElectrochromicAutomotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987);N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications ofChromogenic Materials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devicesfor Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS.,Optical Engineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporatedby reference herein in their entireties.

The transparent conductive layer or layers at the second and thirdsurfaces of the reflective element may comprise any suitable transparentconductive coatings or layers, such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) ordoped (antimony or fluorine doped) tin oxide or doped zinc oxide (suchas aluminum-doped zinc oxide) or an ITO/thin Ag/ITO stack or an ITO/thinAl/ITO stack or a thin (preferably, less than about 200 angstroms inphysical thickness; more preferably less than about 150 angstroms thick;most preferably less than about 125 angstroms thick; and greater thanabout 75 angstroms thick, more preferably greater than about 85angstroms thick and most preferably greater than about 100 angstromsthick) coating of silver (or a silver alloy) sandwiched between ITO ordoped zinc oxide layers or a thin coating of aluminum (or an aluminumalloy) sandwiched between ITO or doped zinc oxide layers or a thincoating of platinum or palladium (or an alloy thereof) sandwichedbetween ITO or doped zinc oxide layers or a thin coating of ruthenium(or a ruthenium alloy) sandwiched between ITO or doped zinc oxidelayers, or such as the conductive layers described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,668,663; 5,142,406; 5,442,478 and 5,724,187, and/or in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,184,190; Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018; Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US-2006-0061008; Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filedNov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or in PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003, published on Apr. 1, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 04/026633; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003, published May 21, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/042457, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror reflector element may include a metal borderelectrical conductor band (such as disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006, published Jul. 5, 2007, asInternational Publication No. WO 2006/124682; and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/681,250, filed May 16, 2005; Ser. No.60/690,400, filed Jun. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/695,149, filed Jun. 29,2005; Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005; Ser. No. 60/750,199,filed Dec. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/774,449, filed Feb. 17, 2006; and Ser.No. 60/783,496, filed Mar. 18, 2006, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties) around and preferably fullycircumscribing the border perimeter of the second surface of the frontsubstrate so that there is a highly conductive all-around electricallyconductive raceway around the ITO (or similar transparent electronicconductor coating or coatings) on the second surface of the frontsubstrate. Flush or near-flush constructions are preferred (such asdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US-2006-0061008, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties), and use of a maximum powering voltage of at leastabout 1.3 volts is preferred, more preferred at least about 1.35V andmost preferred at least about 1.4V. Also, the composition and opticalthickness and optical constants (including refractive index) of thetransparent conductor (such as ITO) used on the second surface of thefront substrate is selected and adapted to minimize any visible lightreflectance off this second surface interface (and if beneficial,additional anti-reflection layers and means, as known in the opticalarts, can be used to reduce or eliminate such second surfacereflections). Transmission through the EC medium for such very darkdimming interior mirror EC cells is preferably less than about 13% T,more preferably less than about 8% T and most preferably is less thanabout 3% T when fully dimmed under the maximum applied voltage deliveredby the EC mirror element powering circuitry of the automatic dimminginterior mirror assembly. Note that aspects of such improvements indelivery of darker dimming electrically variable reflectivity interiorautomotive mirrors may also be applied to electrically variablereflectance automotive exterior mirrors.

Although shown and described as an electro-optic or electrochromicelectro-optic element assembly or cell, the reflective element maycomprise a single substrate (and thus only having a first surface and asecond surface) with a reflective coating at its rear (second) surface,without affecting the scope of the present invention. For example, themirror assembly may comprise a prismatic mirror element or other mirrorelement having a single substrate reflective element, such as a mirrorassembly utilizing aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870;6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371; and 4,435,042;and PCT Application No. PCT/US04/015424, filed May 18, 2004, publishedDec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 04/103772; and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,249,860, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Optionally, the reflective element maycomprise a conventional prismatic or flat reflective element or prism,or may comprise a prismatic or flat reflective element of the typesdescribed in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003,published Apr. 1, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 04/026633;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/709,434, filed May 5, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,420,756; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,249,860; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424,filed May 18, 2004, published Dec. 2, 2004, as International PublicationNo. WO 04/103772, which are all hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention. A variety of mirror accessories and constructions are knownin the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136;5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319; and 6,315,421(the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein), that can benefit from the present invention.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays at thereflective element or elsewhere at the mirror assembly, such as displaysof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,and/or display-on-demand or transflective type displays, such as thetypes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187,and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13,2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018;Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov.19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov.22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983; and/or Ser. No. 11/021,065, filedDec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 9, 2003, published Apr. 1, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 04/026633; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003, published May 21, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/042457; and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/630,061, filed Nov. 22, 2004; Ser. No.60/667,048, filed Mar. 31, 2005; Ser. No. 60/629,926, filed Nov. 22,2004; Ser. No. 60/531,838, filed Dec. 23, 2003; Ser. No. 60/553,842,filed Mar. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/563,342, filed Apr. 19, 2004; Ser. No.60/681,250, filed May 16, 2005; Ser. No. 60/690,400, filed Jun. 14,2005; Ser. No. 60/695,149, filed Jun. 29, 2005; Ser. No. 60/717,093,filed Sep. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005; Ser. No.60/750,199, filed Dec. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/774,449, filed Feb. 17,2006; and Ser. No. 60/783,496, filed Mar. 18, 2006; Ser. No. 60/732,245,filed Nov. 1, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/759,992, filed Jan. 18, 2006,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003,published Jul. 15, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 04/058540,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006,published Jul. 15, 2007, as International Publication No. WO2006/124682, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct.31, 2006, published Apr. 23, 2009, as International Publication No. WO2007/053710, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may support one or more otheraccessories or features, such as one or more electrical or electronicdevices or accessories. For example, illumination sources or lights,such as map reading lights or one or more other lights or illuminationsources, such as illumination sources of the types disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994;5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096;6,042,253; 6,971,775; and/or 5,669,698, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381;and/or Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,249,860, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, may be included in the mirror assembly. The illuminationsources and/or the circuit board may be connected to one or more buttonsor inputs for activating and deactivating the illumination sources.Optionally, the mirror assembly may also or otherwise include otheraccessories, such as microphones, such as analog microphones or digitalmicrophones or the like, such as microphones of the types disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or in PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/308877, filed Oct. 1, 2003, published Apr. 15,2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/032568, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, themirror assembly may also or otherwise include other accessories, such asa telematics system, speakers, antennas, including global positioningsystem (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,798,688, a voice recorder, a blind spot detection and/orindication system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,051, filedApr. 30, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; Ser. No. 10/209,173, filedJul. 31, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,287; and Ser. No. 11/315,675,filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580; and/or Ser. No.PCT/US06/026148, filed Jul. 6, 2006, published Apr. 16, 2009, asInternational Publication No. WO 2007/005942; and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec. 23, 2004; Ser. No.60/784,570, filed Mar. 22, 2006; and/or Ser. No. 60/696,953, filed Jul.6, 2005, a docking station and/or multimedia display, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/879,619, filedJan. 10, 2007; Ser. No. 60/850,700, filed Oct. 10, 2006; and U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/847,502, filed Sep. 27, 2006,transmitters and/or receivers, such as for a garage door opener or avehicle door unlocking system or the like (such as a remote keylessentry system), a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,798,575, a high/low headlamp controller, such as a camera-basedheadlamp control, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, an imaging system orcomponents or circuitry or display thereof, such as an imaging and/ordisplay system of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268 and6,847,487; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/614,644,filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; Ser. No.60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/644,903, filed Jan. 11,2005; Ser. No. 60/667,049, filed Mar. 31, 2005; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/105,757, filed Apr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,526,103; and/or Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,881,496, a video device for internal cabin surveillance (suchas for sleep detection or driver drowsiness detection or the like)and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a heating element, particularly for anexterior mirror application, such as the types described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/334,139, filed Jan. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.7,400,435, a remote keyless entry receiver, a seat occupancy detector, aremote starter control, such as the types described in U.S. provisionalapplication, Ser. No. 60/859,680, filed Nov. 17, 2006, a yaw sensor, aclock, a carbon monoxide detector, status displays, such as displaysthat display a status of a door of the vehicle, a transmission selection(4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) or the like), an antilock brakingsystem, a road condition (that may warn the driver of icy roadconditions) and/or the like, a trip computer, a tire pressure monitoringsystem (TPMS) receiver (such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647;6,294,989; 6,445,287; 6,472,979; and/or 6,731,205; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/232,324, filed Sep. 21, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,423,522; and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/611,796,filed Sep. 21, 2004), and/or an ONSTAR® system and/or any otheraccessory or circuitry or the like (with all of the above-referencedpatents and PCT and U.S. patent applications and U.S. provisionalapplications being commonly assigned, and with the disclosures of thereferenced patents and patent applications and provisional applicationsbeing hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the mirror assembly may incorporate or accommodate or beassociated with other accessories, such as a compass sensor or system,such as a compass or compass system of the types described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/305,637, filed Dec. 16, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,329,013; Ser. No. 10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,922,902; Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,370,983; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 andpublished Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/orSer. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860;and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,004,593; 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305;5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727;5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,222,460; 5,255,442; 6,173,501; 6,427,349;6,278,271; 5,942,895; 6,184,679; 6,513,252; and 6,642,851, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004, published Dec. 2,2004, as International Publication No. WO 04/103772, and/or Europeanpatent application, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 01043566; and/or PCT Publication No. WO 2004/076971, published Sep. 10,2004, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may accommodate other accessories orcircuitry or the like as well, such as a rain sensor or imaging deviceor the like. For example, the mirror assembly may include a mountingportion (such as the types described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US-2006-0061008; and/or U.S. provisional applications,Ser. No. 60/692,113, filed Jun. 20, 2005; Ser. No. 60/677,990, filed May5, 2005; Ser. No. 60/653,787, filed Feb. 17, 2005; Ser. No. 60/642,227,filed Jan. 7, 2005; Ser. No. 60/638,250, filed Dec. 21, 2004; Ser. No.60/624,091, filed Nov. 1, 2004, and Ser. No. 60/609,642, filed Sep. 14,2004, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties), and may include a rain sensor or the like and may positionthe rain sensor against the windshield, such as described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,250,148; 6,341,523; and 6,824,281, and in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/023,162, filed Dec. 17, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,664;Ser. No. 10/348,514, filed Jan. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,736;and Ser. No. 10/958,087, filed Oct. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,188,963, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. Optionally, the mirror assembly may include an imagingdevice, such as an imaging array sensor for imaging systems of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,989,736; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,396,397;6,201,642; 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 6,396,397; 5,550,677; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 5,877,897; 6,097,023; and 6,498,620, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/441,341, filed Nov. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.7,339,149; Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.7,038,577; and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,720,580, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicle vision system, said vehicle vision system comprising: a vehicle having a rear portion; an extender element disposed at the rear portion so as to protrude rearward from the rear portion of the vehicle; said extender element comprising an extender portion and an end portion, wherein said end portion is at an outer end of said extender portion that is distal from an inner end of said extender portion that is at the rear portion of the vehicle; said end portion viewable to a viewer who is viewing the rear of the vehicle; said end portion comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle emblem and (ii) a vehicle logo; wherein said extender portion comprises a sidewall having a lower portion and an upper portion, and wherein said lower portion protrudes from the rear portion of the vehicle more than said upper portion protrudes from the rear portion of the vehicle; a rear backup camera assembly at least partially disposed in said extender portion; said rear backup camera assembly comprising a lens and a two dimensional array of a plurality of light sensing photosensor elements; wherein said rear backup camera assembly is disposed with its lens viewing exterior of the vehicle; wherein said lens of said rear backup camera assembly is disposed at said lower portion of said sidewall of said extender portion; wherein said extender element is incapable of extending such that said rear backup camera is non-movable relative to the rear portion of the vehicle when disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle; wherein said rear backup camera assembly comprises a CMOS color camera and wherein said CMOS color camera captures video images at least of an area immediately rearward of the vehicle; wherein said extender element is at least partially formed of a polymeric material; wherein the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly encompasses a rear part of the vehicle below said extender element so as to provide a reference for a driver of the vehicle when viewing video images captured by said rear backup camera assembly; and wherein said rear backup camera assembly is positioned at a central region at the rear of the vehicle.
 2. The vehicle vision system of claim 1, wherein said extender element comprises part of an exterior trim element.
 3. The vehicle vision system of claim 2, wherein said rear backup camera assembly is positioned above a rear license plate of the vehicle and wherein the rear part of the vehicle that is below said extender element and that is encompassed by the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly comprises a bumper.
 4. The vehicle vision system of claim 3, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle comprises part of one of (i) a deck lid of the vehicle and (ii) a tailgate of the vehicle.
 5. The vehicle vision system of claim 1, wherein said extender element comprises part of a rear tailgate handle.
 6. The vehicle vision system of claim 5, wherein said rear backup camera assembly is positioned above a rear license plate of the vehicle and wherein the rear part of the vehicle that is below said extender element and that is encompassed by the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly comprises a bumper.
 7. The vehicle vision system of claim 6, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle comprises part of a tailgate of the vehicle.
 8. The vehicle vision system of claim 1, wherein said extender element comprises part of a deck lid handle.
 9. The vehicle vision system of claim 8, wherein said rear backup camera assembly is positioned above a rear license plate of the vehicle and wherein the rear part of the vehicle that is below said extender element and that is encompassed by the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly comprises a bumper.
 10. The vehicle vision system of claim 9, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle comprises part of a deck lid of the vehicle.
 11. The vehicle vision system of claim 1, wherein said extender element comprises part of a light bar.
 12. The vehicle vision system of claim 11, wherein said rear backup camera assembly is positioned above a rear license plate of the vehicle and wherein the rear part of the vehicle that is below said extender element and that is encompassed by the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly comprises a bumper.
 13. The vehicle vision system of claim 12, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle comprises part of one of (i) a deck lid of the vehicle and (ii) a tailgate of the vehicle.
 14. The vehicle vision system of claim 1, wherein said end portion has a shape and wherein said extender portion has a shape matching that of said end portion.
 15. The vehicle vision system of claim 14, wherein said rear backup camera assembly protrudes outwardly relative to the rear portion of the vehicle through an opening at a lower part of said extender element.
 16. The vehicle vision system of claim 15, wherein the rear part of the vehicle that is below said extender element and that is encompassed by the field of view of said rear backup camera assembly comprises a bumper.
 17. The vehicle vision system of claim 16, wherein said extender portion comprises an elongated portion having a shape matching that of said end portion. 